Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-07-02

their Journey would have been as far be-
yond them when they reached the vii
age or house as it had been before.
II the story is to be understood lit
orally according to the language tlsed, the
indications point strongly toward the CON
clusion that tine star was a miraculous phe~
nomenon, which was caused to appear for
special purpose. and, having accomplished its
mission, finally disappeared. How far the
language Of appearance, or OF a sort OF poeti-
cal picturing, may be possible in this verse. il
is difficult to say. The star did not actually
move, it only seemed to move, say those WHO
would hold this view. It must in fairness,
be said, however that the remainder of the
story is told in the prosaic, MOI the poetic.
way; it is told as il all that is mentioned
actually occurred. It must also be admitted
that stars in the upper heavens, which
apparently go before the traveller, do not even
seem to stop over a village or a houss
when the traveller reaches the house or
village. In this brief note, the difficulties in
the way OF the view that the phenomenon
was conjunction Of stars cannot be
presented. The reader may be referred to
the article in Smiths Bible Dictionary. en-
titled 'T'he Star of the Wise Men," There
are more or less difficulties in connection with
every view OF the subject which has been
proposed. That which holds that the star
was an extraordinary luminous body which
appeared for q time and then disappeared,
and which in its movements ETC., answered
to the statements of the narrative taken
literally, IS the ono which is, perhaps, exposed
to the fewest serious objections, and the one
which may best satisfy the demands OF the
case.
Verse 11.-Alsd they cdnte into the house
and sdi0 the goung ctlid iDith Mary his
mother and they fell doirn and fCorshippe9
him; and opening their treGsures they
offered unto MIN gifts, gold and franklin
cense and nsNrh: The words "the house
naturally point backward to the phrase
"where the young child was" In verse ..
They would seem TO indicate, if we take them
in connection with the story Of the birth Of
Jesus as given by Luke. that the parents OF
Jesus had left the inn before this time, and
were now in house. If we had Matthews
narrative alone, we might suppose
this hc'ise TO be one in which Jo
as residents Of Bethlehem But Luke tells us
that they had come from Nazareth. and that
they were only in Bethlehem for q time. The
fact that Joseph is not mentioned here scarce
" needs explanation, as the child was the OBJ
ject OF their search and inquiry. and the child
would naturally be with his mother. The
treasures here mentioned were the treas
ure-boxes or chests which they carried with
them. The gifts which they offered were sucit
as were befittIng when they approached such
a King; and with the presentation of their
gifts, or as preparatory to the presentation.
they did obeisance 70 him
Verse 12.-And being icarned Of God In q
dream that they should not return to Hcrod.
then departed into their oicn country
another 1vdy: The Maei wore in dream
directed not to return to Jerusalem, whics
would have been their natural course as thev
went homeward. The Divine interpretations
in this case was, as we may believe, partly,
at least, in order that the accomplishment OF
Herod's plan of putting Jesus TO death might
be hindered. What other purpose, il any.
the warning may have had, we may not dis
cover from the story.
As to the exact condition Of mind of the
Magi with reference to the newborn King Of
the jews, and as 10 what followed their visit,
no certain and definite statement can be
made. But it is difficult for US, in view Of the
simple story, not to believe that they do
parted TO their own country as true subjects
of the newborn King, and that they found in
their own experience the meaning of ths
words of the angel who had appeared to
Joseph in a dream, and had said: "Thou
shalt call his name Jesus; for it is he that
shall save his people from their sins n-Sisv-
6qg-SchooI Times